Marvel Studios has been putting the chess pieces in place for a World War Hulk movie, which could be the biggest non-Avengers event movie in the MCU.
Bruce Banner has been prevalent in the MCU ever since the franchise's inception, and the character's most exciting story, World War Hulk, has been heavily rumored to be finally in the works. The Hulk first entered the MCU in 2008 with The Incredible Hulk, one of the earliest Marvel Studios movies, though the character looks a lot different in the film, as the titular hero was played by Edward Norton. Four years later, in The Avengers, the actor was replaced by Mark Ruffalo. While the character hasn't had a second solo movie in the MCU, Ruffalo became a major player in the series all the way up to and beyond Avengers: Endgame.
The Hulk is one of the few original Avengers to have a role in the Multiverse Saga. Not only that, but The Incredible Hulk has surprisingly become one of the most important MCU Phase 1 movies, as Abomination returned in two MCU projects in 2022: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Meanwhile, The Incredible Hulk's The Leader will soon make a return appearance as the main antagonist of Captain America: New World Order. With all the returning Hulk-related characters and Bruce's own appearance in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, a lot has been hinted at regarding the possibility of a World War Hulk movie.
World War Hulk Latest News
While there hasn't been any official news on the development of a World War Hulk movie, the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law teased the story as early as its first episode, "A Normal Amount of Rage," when a Sakaarian spaceship appeared, causing Bruce Banner and Jennifer Walters to veer off the road. Sakaar is the planet in Thor: Ragnarok, and in the comics, World War Hulk follows the Hulk's departure from that world. In She-Hulk episode 2, "Superhuman Law," Banner says, "I got some things to take care of" before flying away in another Sakaarian ship, which all but confirms what's next for the super scientist.
Sakaar plays an important role in the World War Hulk comic book story, and though Thor: Ragnarok pulled from parts of the story, such as Hulk being a gladiator, it didn't go any further than that. Mark Ruffalo commented on the tease after admitting that not much had been mentioned about the Hulk's time on Sakaar or turning into Smart Hulk. The actor explained, "I do think that the trip to Sakaar is a good place to start, and what that means to the idea of what the fans have been asking for," hinting that World War Hulk could fill in the gaps. However, he didn't give much away.
While Marvel Studios has left viewers wondering what happens next as She-Hulk: Attorney at Law had a lot of loose ends, Ruffalo's comments are at least positive. And while it might have been totally cryptic, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law's head writer Jessica Gao addressed the World War Hulk tease by saying, "I think it kind of opens up the possibility, if Marvel chooses to do something with that, to pick up that story. If they wanted." Gao isn't currently signed onto any MCU project, and She-Hulk season 2 hasn't been confirmed, but she could be working on something yet to be announced.
World War Hulk Release Date
Following the last announcements from Marvel Studios, there are some clear places in the Multiverse Saga timeline where World War Hulk would fit perfectly if it was to happen. In particular, there are some huge gaps in MCU Phase 6, notably in the year between Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars where there are currently no MCU movies scheduled.
However, the best possible time for World War Hulk would be after Avengers: Secret Wars, which concludes the Multiverse Saga. World War Hulk would be too much of a distraction from the Avengers movies if it was released in MCU Phase 6. Given that World War Hulk story includes not only the Hulk, but the Avengers, the Inhumans, and the X-Men, the MCU could risk being overstuffed. World War Hulk wouldn't be the same without the mutants, so they need to be well-established in the universe by the time the movie is released. However, 2024's Deadpool 3 could fix that, especially with the return of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.
World War Hulk Story Details
The World War Hulk movie could be the Multiverse Saga's Civil War, as it's an epic crossover. The comics follow the Hulk being tricked into going to space by the Illuminati, and once he arrives back on Earth, seeking revenge on the superhero group. Hulk then confronts Professor Xavier, kills several X-Men, and goes on to fight The New Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and Gamma Corps. While elements of the story have been used in the MCU, such as Bruce Banner being exiled though it was of his own volition the events between that moment in Avengers: Age of Ultron and his reappearance in Thor: Ragnarok remain unknown.
Along with the hints in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the Illuminati was introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, leading to the possibility that the Hulk could have an altercation with the group in the future. However, given that the current iteration of the superhero is Smart Hulk, who isn't all that angry, he isn't exactly vengeful either. But that's where the Hulk's son, Skaar, comes in. He was introduced at the end of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, and in World War Hulk, he could be vengeful after being abandoned by his father.
Then there's the potential for Red Hulk to be involved, as the character was first introduced in the World War Hulk comic storyline. The MCU has also hinted at Red Hulk and that he possibly already exists. Thunderbolt Ross turns into Red Hulk in the comic book and becomes one of Bruce Banner's primary villains. In Captain America: Civil War, Ross is in poor health, but he was perfectly fine in Avengers: Endgame, hinting that there's something superhuman about his recovery. As Harrison Ford will play Thunderbolt Ross in Thunderbolts, it'll likely be a way more important role in the MCU than Ross had previously.
0 Comments